Patience plays as big a role as a steady aim

One of the hardest jobs of a dedicated hunter at this time of the year is remaining motivated.

One of the hardest jobs of a dedicated hunter at this time of the year is remaining motivated.

With three weeks of the whitetail deer archery season past, it's easy to question yourself if you haven't scored that big buck you dreamed of for so long.

Am I in the right spot? Why am I not seeing more deer? It can get a little frustrating when the hunt doesn't come together as planned.

You've done the homework, know the land, but yet the big moment hasn't happened. I'm here to tell you, you are not alone.

Some people (non-hunters) think hunting is all about walking into the woods, pulling the trigger and walking out with what you went in search of. Not quite.

Hunting involves patience and plenty of it sometimes. It's normal to question yourself when you get shut out after a few days. Ever hunt all day and not see a deer or a rabbit or a pheasant or whatever you're chasing? Yeah, it's not fun, but it has happened to us all.

Personally, I'm on a 15-hour streak without seeing a deer. That's right, 15 hours over four days without seeing a tail, not a twitch through saplings, not a snort, not a thing. That's hard to do.

If you want to see depressed, it was written all over my face last week after my fourth straight day without seeing a creature.

I got excited the other day when I spotted a downy woodpecker. That's sad.

But I'm not alone. Not spotting a deer would test anyone's patience, I figure. And in some weird, twisted way, waiting for the right deer at the right moment will be so much more rewarding when it does (hopefully) walk by.

The next 10 days or so will bring changes, though. The rut is about to kick in and with it, the deer will be on the move. If you haven't found any scrapes (scratches on the ground that bucks make to mark their territory, usually near overhanging branches), go out and check again this weekend.

This weekend might be the time to start using your rattling antlers and grunt tubes to attract those curious bucks. There is nothing more exciting than bashing those antlers and watching or hearing a buck run your way.

Sometimes those bucks come running out of curiosity and sometimes they come looking for a fight. Either way, the crash through the woods will get your heart beating.

Until then, keep your spirits up, stay near those rubs and soon-to-be scrapes in the weeks to come. Keep motivated, stick to your gut feeling that your favorite stand will produce once again.